CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70.96% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

A Day In The Life Of A Day Trader

Overview

Day trading is often referred to as being "the most difficult way to make an easy living." The constant calculations of risk vs reward, win vs loss and profit vs drawdown can become an exhausting daily grind. Yet, there are a formidable number of individuals who gladly take the daily challenge of active trading in search of financial reward.

A "day trader" is defined as being someone who takes short-term positions in the financial markets in an attempt to profit from the momentary pricing fluctuations of a chosen security. A day trader does not hold positions into the market's close; each day is a fresh ledger, with the previous day's final score being recorded in dollars and cents.

Day trading is often categorised as a "revolving door" occupation, with a steady stream of new traders entering the market while veteran traders blow up their accounts and make a hasty exit from the marketplace. Estimates on the failure rates of day traders are relatively high. Washout rates in the neighborhood of 95%, or the common "four-out-of-five traders eventually fail," are accepted as fact within the industry.[1]

Of course, these figures are debatable depending on your perspective, but it is undeniable that success as a day trader requires the presence of a unique set of attributes. Character, work ethic, patience, organisational skills and discipline are a few of the qualities needed to have a shot at the brass ring.

Markets And Market Hours

A day trader has the freedom to trade any market, or group of markets, in which a perceived opportunity to profit is present. The largest and most liquid markets in the world are electronic in nature and readily accessible.

The NYSE, CME Globex and the forex exchange are the largest and most frequented markets by day traders. The forex exchange is by far the largest marketplace in the world, averaging nearly US$4 trillion of value traded per day. Coming in a distant second is the NYSE, the largest equities market in the world, trading an average daily volume of US$74 billion.[2] Instead of being measured in terms of dollar value, individual futures markets listed on the CME Globex are measured by the total number of traded contracts per trading session. Total daily contracts traded in a specific sector of the CME Globex routinely measure in the millions.[3]

Types Of Day Traders

Day traders come in all shapes and sizes, with the aspiration of profit often being the only common ground among them. A trader's adopted methodology and market he or she is actively trading dictates what the trading day will look like.

For instance, a purely discretionary trader is free to adopt any trading schedule he or she deems appropriate. If a conventional 9 am to 5 pm work day is wanted, then an appropriate market and timing strategy can be crafted to accommodate this desire. The same process can be completed if a four-hour work day is the goal, or even a two-hour work day is desired. The only rule for the discretionary trader is profit; if the profits are present, then the final timeline of the trading day is irrelevant.

Automated system trading is more complex in nature, due to the fact that many systems are based upon applying a small edge many times in order to secure a profit. While it is true that automated systems can be tailored to function only during specific market hours, it is commonplace for automated systems to run continuously as long as the market being traded is open.

The ascent of the electronic marketplace has enabled day traders to adopt a 24-hour trading session. In the trader's eyes, what is the difference between a good trade setup at 7 am and a good trade setup at 11:30 pm? Ultimately, a good trade setup is a good trade setup, and the potential for profit leads the automated systems trader to a vastly different trading day.

In a fashion similar to the purely discretionary trader, the mechanical trader has the freedom to design a daily schedule without the concern of missing out on an individual trade. While a mechanical trader does employ automated systems to execute a given trading strategy, it is done on a selective basis. Trade execution is automated, but it is done at the sole direction of the trader. In turn, the trader is free to turn the automated system on or off according to predetermined guidelines or simple trader intuition.

No matter the adopted trading methodology, there are three basic components that make up a day in the life of a day trader: pre-market preparation, live trading and post-market analysis.

Pre-market Preparation

Benjamin Franklin described the necessity for preparation perfectly: "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail".[4] His words apply to the occupation of day trader more than most other pursuits. The marketplace is dynamic in nature, with the ability to produce numerous scenarios over the course of a single trading session. Although the ultimate result of the day trader's session is either profit or loss, the path to said result can range from unexpected to routine. Depending on the level of preparation completed during the pre-market hours, the challenges presented during a trading session may or may not be overcome.

Pre-market Preparation: Technical Analysis

It is common for traders who practice a trading strategy reliant upon technical analysis to have key levels and indicators identified long before they become important. A comprehensive game plan is built through the recognition of relevant price levels and functioning indicators ahead of time, clearly defining possible entry and exit points for potential trades.

A trader will often look for a convergence of support and resistance levels using the method of "multiple time frame analysis" (MFTA). MFTA is a method of analysing the pricing of a stock, commodity, or currency using charts of assorted durations.[5]

Because day traders are interested in capturing short-term moves in price, the need for a fine-tuned entry into the market is often desired. Under MTFA, price charts are examined from longer durations to the shorter durations in an attempt to keep perspective on the changing market.

Pre Market Preparation: Fundamental Analysis

Fundamental analysis is the study of the intrinsic value of a financial instrument.[6] At its core, fundamental analysis operates under the assumption that over time the price of a security will move towards its intrinsic value. Financial statements, earnings ratios, inventory reports, economic data releases and simple news reporting all provide information used in fundamental analysis.

Among day traders, the usefulness of fundamental analysis is a point of contention. Due to the fact that day traders are looking to enter and exit the market quickly, the validity of information pertaining to a financial instrument on a macro level is debatable. However, one thing is agreed upon by all; anything that can move the market substantially in the short term must be accounted for. An ill-timed news story or economic release can wreak havoc on a trader's position.

During the pre-market preparation period, scheduled economic data releases can be identified and incorporated into the coming session's game plan. Individual companies release earnings reports on a designated schedule as well. These are aspects of the trade that can provide heightened volatility, and easily be identified and accounted for during pre-market preparation.

Market Hours: Live Trading Session

During market hours, the day trader is busy performing three basic tasks: identifying and executing trades, analysing market conditions in real time and conducting live market research. Live trading can be consuming on many different levels, but it is important that the trader continues to observe the market objectively and keep record of the day's occurrences.

Live Trading: Trade Execution

The physical act of placing and managing a trade varies depending on the day trader's adopted methodology. Seeing a trade through from entry to exit can be either labor intensive or automatic. In each situation, the trade setup must be recognised, scrutinised and then executed. By far, the bulk of the time spent during a live trading session is spent searching for favourable trade setups.

Aside from high-frequency traders, the act of physically (or mechanically) placing trades is a relatively small part of the day trader's day. The trade itself is the culmination of all the time and effort that went into developing the trading plan, preparing for the trading session and waiting for the trade to present itself. While it's true that optimal trade execution is necessary in order for a day trader to succeed, the actual time spent placing trades is very small. In the electronic marketplace, placing a trade is as quick and easy as clicking a mouse.

Live Trading: Market Analysis And Live Market Research

The ability to interpret market data in real time is a key skill that can go unrecognised to an individual new to day trading. To keep a valid trading system operating at its maximum capabilities, it is imperative that market conditions are frequently identified and categorised to understand the strengths and weaknesses of a particular trading approach.

A number of tools are available to aid the trader in the compilation and interpretation of live market data on the fly. Trading logs, integrated spreadsheets and account summary pages can be used to record each trade in detail and analyse the characteristics of the trade in depth.

One of the most important tools at the day trader's disposal is the trading journal. A trading journal is used to record each transaction in detail. The objective of a trading journal is to provide a complete picture of trading operations to the trader for review. Much like a professional athlete watching game film of a previous performance, the day trader can review his or her journal in an attempt to gain insight on why a specific trading session unfolded the way that it did.

The development of a detailed trading journal enables the trader to identify and improve in three major areas: consistency, accountability and performance. Each of these aspects of a day trader's trading method is crucial to the eventual success or failure of the trader. The goal of journaling is to enhance trader performance, and when used diligently, the trading journal can be a catalyst for improvement.

Post Market Analysis

Upon the trading session's close, the completion of a final set of tasks is necessary. A recap of the market behaviour observed during the trading session is completed along with an evaluation of trader performance for the day's trading session. Both aspects of post-market analysis are needed to gain as much knowledge from the trading session as possible.

Session Recap

A detailed recap of a trading session can be a valuable tool for the day trader as he or she moves forward in a trading career. Unlike a simple profit and loss data sheet, a session recap focuses on how the market actually behaved during the trading session.

Did price action behave as expected?

Did the market react to external stimuli in a positive or negative fashion?

The major challenge for the day trader is to objectively complete the session recap. After a tumultuous trading session in which a substantial gain or loss is realised, it is a challenge to look upon the day's events and not take the outcome personally. On the flip side of that coin, a seemingly "dull" session may lend valuable insights into how to capitalise on similar markets in the future. An objective recap of the day's events can provide insight on how to proceed with future trading operations.

Performance Evaluation

A key element of the day trader's routine is the post-market evaluation of trader performance. Much like statistics for a professional athlete, the performance evaluation shows in definitive terms how well or poorly a trader (or automated system) performed for that day. For the day trader, the session's close provides finality and an end to the day's business. The session was either a win or a loss, determined by how much the value of the account grew or shrunk. Proper perspective and closure are valuable assets to the day trader moving into future trading sessions.

The key elements of the daily performance evaluation are the answers to questions pertaining to the application of the trading methodology.

Were proper trades being taken?

Was the trade execution and management performed in accordance with the guidelines defined by the trading approach?

Was the game plan executed properly, and did it perform to expectations?

Was the pre-market preparation adequate?

Again, honesty and objectivity are needed in the trader performance evaluation. Without accurate performance records, it can be difficult for the day trader to measure improvement and regression.

Summary

A day in the life of a day trader can take many forms. Essentially, it is the combination of preparation, execution and performance analysis.

Depending on the year, there are nearly 250 days on the calendar in which the markets are open for business.[7] Each trading session provides the opportunity for success, and the possibility of failure. Given the proper perspective, work ethic and desire, success in the marketplace can become a reality to the day trader.

Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices, other information, or links to third-party sites are provided as general market commentary and do not constitute investment advice. FXCM will not accept liability for any loss or damage including, without limitation, to any loss of profit which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information.

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